University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(6)

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A PALM outstretched for the future

Last year the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Robert Hernandez Center raised nearly $7,000 for a Latino scholarship endowment fund. It was part of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the center that's the successor of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute.

That money was added to a fund that had been started in the 1990s and that had about $7,000 in it, but that had just been sitting there, said Enrique Figueroa, the director of the center. .

This year the center wants to continue efforts to grow the endowment.

So on Saturday, October 22 it will hold the annual Promoting Academic in Latino Milwaukee (PALM) fundraiser beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing arts, 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd.

There will be a salsa dance competition and exhibition and about a dozen restaurants will donate food for the event. Dancing to the live music of the Spanglish Band begins at 8:30 p.m.

"We're shooting to raise from $10,000 to $12,000 for the endowment this year", said Enrique Figueroa, director of the center.

So far, there's about $15,000 in the fund and some emergency scholarships have been provided to students at risk of dropping out, he said. Eight scholarships of $500 each have been awarded and two or three more will be given by the end of May, he said.

"The goal is to raise $250,000, if not more, by 2020 when the center will be 50 years old," he added.

General admission for the event is $50. It's $25 for students.

For more information, contact Heydee Villafuerte at (414) 229-6156. Reservations can also be made by e mail at www.rhc.uwm.edu.

About Georgia Pabst

Georgia Pabst is a general assignment reporter whose areas of coverage include Milwaukee County government, the Latino community, non-profits and neighborhoods.